With prices rising and budgets getting tightened, schools are struggling to find ways to close the gap more than ever. Some districts are getting creative by only having 4 day school weeks or all day kindergarten. Other districts are holding back on replacing aging school buses or terminating bus services altogether. Still other districts are making do with older textbooks. Of course, the parents (struggling themselves with supplies and clothes) are being leaned on more and more to contribute.

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I've said it before...I wish the achitecture of all the new schools they build around here was a lot more utilitarian. They don't need to be giant, ugly boxes...but I think some money could be saved (and put toward, you know, education) by leaving out a bunch of skylights and cathedral ceilings.

Oh yeah, and let's try leaving out pointless technology that's use in the classroom can't possibly justify the cost. I'm referring to my old elementary school that recently added a wing, and every classroom in said wing came equipped with a $1000+ digital projector hanging from the ceiling.

Some of it they can't. Skylighting is becoming code for new buildings in a lot of states. So is automated HVAC and lighting controls. I agree that there's a LOT of fat that can be cut from the budget (don't need $300 fixtures in the classrooms FFS) but when it comes to energy usage some of it's beyond their control.

I can say this because I do alot of contracting for school builds/retrofits

I like the 4 days of school a week idea Also I like those projectors! they're required pieces of equipment in my book. Not sure where I sit on the new bus thing though.


But I don't thing we need to waste so much paper. It's expensive and killing earth.


Down with homework!!!!!

It makes Nemesis Prime Cry!!!!

Oh public schools, when will you stop draining our funds?

Seriously

Though the No Child Left Behind program is a serious misuse of everything

In before me